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PrincessArlenasDad said:
Also, I do not understand how the fun cards "deteriorate the value" of annual passes.  (I'll put an exception here if they had prepaid multiyear passes last year, I don't remember if they did or not).  When looking at ticket options, everyone has the choice to build the package best for their family.  I don't see why people should complain that choice "A" is not as much better for them than choice "B" as they would like.  

Here's an analogy: I buy the 6 lb bags of cat food.  It saves money/lb (relative to the 3 lb bags), and takes up less storage space than two 3 lbs bags.  One day, the 3 lb bags are on sale (but not the 6 lb bags), so the price / lb is the same for both.  Getting the 6 lb bag is less of a value now, relative to two 3 lb bags.  But, I still buy the 6 lb bag, because of the storage space issue.  In fact, I may still buy the 6 lb bag, even if it is more per lb than the 3 lb bag.  But, my next door neighbor, who is not strong enough to lift the 6 lb bag, is ecstatic about the sale, and buys this brand instead of the brand they usually buy.

Bottom line: if you are happy with the ticket selection and price that best fits your family, who cares what the other options are, and how close they are (benefits wise) to what you select?

One last point about ticket types and park profitability:

Without the data that they have, and we do not, we can only hope they are making the best decisions. And, just because they are not as successful as we'd like, does not mean they are making bad decisions.  It is possible the outcome they have is the best possible outcome.  Keep in mind, with the lackluster economy for the last 5+ years (and general inconsistent economy since 9/11), Americans have changed how they spend on entertainment and travel.  Therefore, ticket and pricing models that worked in the past may no longer be profitable.  Hence the changing in pricing models through the travel and entertainment industry (see airlines for an example of this).

This is what I'm looking for. Many people claim the Fun Card deal was a slap in the face to Annual Pass Members. My view was always, the value is in the eye of the beholder essentially, but you explain it with so much more finesse than I could.
 
Even though this offer has ended, I just happened to glance at BGT's Facebook and found out they are doing the same exact deal. Buy and Busch Gardens Tampa Fun Card and get Adventure Island for free.

So those of you who said this was BGW's way for getting more people in the park, what about BGT? Clearly they don't have that much of a problem with attendance.

Honestly, I think it was more of a corporate decision to offer this deal at each of the parks in hopes of increasing attendance all around the company. Thoughts?
 
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Oh, so does this mean there is no real anchor park but an anchor brand holding back the company :p

I never really thought or I guess I never heard of BGT having attendance issues. I guess that could just be me not being knowledgeable about them. I mean it is a slow time of the year, January thru March can be quite a drag. But May thru October brings the people and and numbers should look better. Right?
 
The thing I keep hearing time and time again is that the SeaWorld branded parks are all up and the "others" are dragging down the company's numbers overall. That was basically confirmed by Jim on the last investor call.
 
But see the thing was everyone was constantly blaming BGW for being the giant anchor. They just ignored the "others" part and all jumped on just one park. They gave excuses and reasons why it can't be any other park, as if it had to be just one park and more specifically this park.

I'm actually glad that BGT offers this deal because it really is a wake-up call (hopefully) to members here that BGW is not the only park weighing the company down. There are others that help to contribute to the issues. Maybe BGW is the worst, but it is certainly not alone. I also think it can also stem from poor brand recognition. Before I started visiting the park before 2000, I had no idea what Busch Gardens was, nor did I realize it even existed. Water parks especially don't get the recognition they need. Sesame Place is just not very well nationally advertised. I have only heard of it through Busch Gardens. Before knowing it was a part of SEAS, I really never knew it existed.

They really need to increase brand recognition and marketing nationally. Most of these parks can have a major tourist draw. Sadly, some of them rely mostly on locals and that is just not enough.

I am sure there are other contributing factors, but I am trying to point out many other issues that seem to go ignored and unmentioned.
 
Not to offend anyone, but BGT and AI are in Tampa. It may be in Florida, but it isn't a huge tourist destination. I go down there a lot for work, but I doubt I'd find myself in Tampa otherwise, if I weren't a Platinum Pass member and such a huge animal fan.
 
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Great news everyone! Because screwing over pass members last year by giving Fun Card holders WCUSA for free just wasn't enough, the park is renewing the promotion for a second year!

Don't worry though, it gets even better! To sweeten the deal, BGW and WCUSA pass prices have increased another $12 this year! I'm pretty sure I speak for all of BGW's loyal pass holders when I say that I'm downright thrilled to be helping to subsidize a promotion that doesn't benefit me in any way, shape, or form. After all, what more could I possibly want? Higher pass prices? CHECK! More people crowding through the gates of Water Country USA and making my day miserable? CHECK! Knowing that only half the people around me actually paid a dime to get in while I'm still expected to? CHECK!

I must say, as a loyal BGW pass holder, I feel so incredibly loved right now. I actually feel butterflies in my stomach. It's so great to be appreciated- just in time for Valentines Day too! Thanks Busch Gardens! Keep up the fantastic work! :heart:




If you'd like to check out my newly updated spreadsheet of pass, fun card, and ticket prices from 2011 to 2015, you can find it here.
 
Zachary said:
Great news everyone! Because screwing over pass members last year by giving Fun Card holders WCUSA for free just wasn't enough, the park is renewing the promotion for a second year!

Don't worry though, it gets even better! To sweeten the deal, BGW and WCUSA pass prices have increase another $12 this year! I'm pretty sure I speak for all of BGW's loyal pass holders when I say that I'm downright thrilled to be helping to subsidize a promotion that doesn't benefit me in any way, shape, or form. After all, what more could I possibly want? Higher pass prices? CHECK! More people crowding through the gates of Water Country USA and making my day miserable? CHECK! Knowing that only half the people around me actually paid a dime to get in while I'm still expected to? CHECK!

I must say, as a loyal BGW pass holder, I feel so incredibly loved right now. I actually feel butterflies in my stomach. It's so great to be appreciated. Thanks Busch Gardens! Keep up the fantastic work!

While you may not feel appreciated, that's theme parks for you Zach. They're not there to please every single person that enters the gates.

They're just trying to make money amid the Blackfish controversy by promoting WCUSA with BGW BOGO.

I think it's a good idea that they're doing this with water parks and their theme parks to attract more people. And while you may not like it, it's a good promotion for the park.

I'm not sure why you're being so sarcastic either... you knew as well as everybody else that a price raise was coming.
 
JBusch16 said:
While you may not feel appreciated, that's theme parks for you Zach. They're not there to please every single person that enters the gates.

This statement makes me so... frustrated. Pleasing pass members (i.e., the park's most loyal customers) should be a priority for any park. You realize what they're doing, right? They've essentially removed a major benefit for pass members, but still expect them to pay the same astronomic price, plus twelve dollars now.

I think it's a good idea that they're doing this with water parks and their theme parks to attract more people. And while you may not like it, it's a good promotion for the park.

I don't think you understand what's happening, Jonathan. They're basically giving away free admission to the water park, for a much a lower price than what pass members pay. Tell me how the park makes money by letting people in the parks for free? I never buy more than a single meal at WCUSA, if I even decide to eat there at all, so I doubt they're making much money off in-park sales. So now, instead of requiring folks to pay for admission or making them become a pass member to enter, they're just letting people through the gates without paying an extra dime.

I'm not sure why you're being so sarcastic either... you knew as well as everybody else that a price raise was coming.

* Joe sighs
 
Alright. I think this is some inside baseball and I don't completely understand. Can someone please break out the difference between what pass members are getting and Fun Pass buyers? I'm not trying to be obtuse - I just want to understand.

Thanks.


Nevermind - I found the chart on page one.
 
Joe said:
I don't think you understand what's happening, Jonathan. They're basically giving away free admission to the water park, for a much a lower price than what pass members pay. Tell me how the park makes money by letting people in the parks for free? I never buy more than a single meal at WCUSA, if I even decide to eat there at all, so I doubt they're making much money off in-park sales. So now, instead of requiring folks to pay for admission or making them become a pass member to enter, they're just letting people through the gates without paying an extra dime.

* Joe sighs

I think I said something very similar last year when this discussion came up but this pass always made perfect sense to me as a marketing strategy even though it is frustrating to pass members.

So what if they are giving away free admission to the water park? While I don't have access to their market research for admission, I'm sure it is safe for me to assume that many of their Busch Gardens guests do not originally plan on visiting Water Country unless it is already included in their admission package. Even if they were, I doubt many of them were planning on visiting more than once a year. If these guests weren't originally planning on attending Water Country but now are, the park makes A LOT of money on each person they have let in for free.

In each additional visit for a family of four they will most likely receive:
* $15 parking fee
* $10-$50 in food and beverages (even a family that isn't eating in the park will probably at least get a couple of drinks because it is hot).
* Potential for other sales such as merchandise and locker rental fees (I'm assuming they still charge for lockers at WCUSA?)

Now repeat that several thousand times as guests are more likely to visit WCUSA and BG multiple times a summer if admission has already been payed for.
 
How much is parking these days? 15-20 bucks, right?

Ok. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, most people who have season passes to both parks visit each park 4 times (probably because they're locals), for a total of 8 visits (minimum).So that's 120-160 dollars in parking saved. This is the only "benefit" I can see to being a pass holder. And, if you go to the parks that often or more it's not too terrible of a deal. There's also free entry into HOS and CT discounts for BGW pass holders which holds some value. And the obligatory minor savings at retail (but I file that under WGAS/WGAF). The FunPass is designed to suck in money from Summer seasonal visitors via parking.

Regardless, I think the parks are outrageously overpriced on all fronts. These are damn near CA/FL prices for parks that are no where in the same league as their year-round counterparts.
 
If you can't beat em', join em'. I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I can use this to my advantage. I have 3 passes for my household, could I buy a couple of these fun cards to use for my friends instead of waiting around for the BAF promotions?
 
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